View allAll Photos Tagged immunization
Health-care workers in Edmonton and Calgary are the first Albertans to be immunized against COVID-19.
Sahra Kaahiye, a respiratory therapist at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton, and Tanya Harvey, an intensive care nurse at the Foothills Medical Centre Cell in Calgary, were the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, December 15, 2020.
“Yesterday, I was on-site to see the first vaccine doses arrive in Alberta – now, about 24 hours later, we’re already administering the vaccine to front-line, critical health-care workers. The speed and efficiency shown in coming together to make this happen is remarkable. We will not stop our efforts until everyone who wants a vaccination gets one.” said Premier Jason Kenney. (photograph by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)
A health worker giving a measles vaccine to a child in Amhara Region south Wollo zone at Hike IDP center. The launch of regional vaccination campaign in Amhara Region of Ethiopia 27 December 2022. In addition, integrating in the campaign, a range of other lifesaving services. These include COVID-19 jabs and catch-up immunizations for under-vaccinated children, screening for acute malnutrition, vitamin A drops and deworming against intestinal parasites. ©UNICEF Ethiopia/2022/Mulugeta Ayene
www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/07/15/1111762813/g...
Global vaccination coverage continued to plunge in 2021, according to a new report
Last year, 25 million children missed out on one or more "lifesaving vaccines" according to a new report from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
"This is 2 million more than those who missed out in 2020 and 6 million more than in 2019, highlighting the growing number of children at risk from devastating but preventable diseases," the report notes. Those diseases include tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, measles, rubella, rotavirus, pneumonia, yellow fever and HPV.
The trend represents the largest "continued backslide" in childhood vaccinations in 30 years, says the report.
For example, the global vaccination rate against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (known as DTP3) fell from 86% in 2019 to 81% in 2021 – the lowest level since 2008, according to UNICEF. DTP3 is a marker for immunization coverage and is given in three doses. If children miss out on this vaccine, the likelihood is that they're missing out on many childhood vaccinations.
And while that percent slide may seem small, the total numbers are immense. According to the report, 18 million children didn't receive a single dose received of DTP during 2021, with the greatest numbers in India and Nigeria.
That compares to 16 million zero-dose DTP children in 2020 and 13 million in 2019.
The disruption caused by the pandemic is one of many reasons for the decline in childhood vaccination.
Other factors include "an increased number of children living in conflict and fragile settings where immunization access is often challenging" and "increased misinformation" about vaccines, according to the report.
"This is a red alert for child health," said Catherine Russell, UNICEF executive director, in a statement. "We are witnessing the largest sustained drop in childhood immunization in a generation. The consequences will be measured in lives.
"COVID-19 is not an excuse. We need immunization catch-ups for the missing millions or we will inevitably witness more outbreaks, more sick children and greater pressure on already strained health systems."
WHO and UNICEF also noted that this worrisome trend sits atop a mounting crisis of malnutrition, which weakens immune systems — making routine childhood illnesses increasingly fatal.
www.who.int/news/item/15-07-2022-covid-19-pandemic-fuels-...
COVID-19 pandemic fuels largest continued backslide in vaccinations in three decades
WHO and UNICEF sound the alarm as new data shows global vaccination coverage continued to decline in 2021, with 25 million infants missing out on lifesaving vaccines
The largest sustained decline in childhood vaccinations in approximately 30 years has been recorded in official data published today by WHO and UNICEF.
The percentage of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) – a marker for immunization coverage within and across countries – fell 5 percentage points between 2019 and 2021 to 81 per cent.
As a result, 25 million children missed out on one or more doses of DTP through routine immunization services in 2021 alone. This is 2 million more than those who missed out in 2020 and 6 million more than in 2019, highlighting the growing number of children at risk from devastating but preventable diseases. The decline was due to many factors including an increased number of children living in conflict and fragile settings where immunization access is often challenging, increased misinformation and COVID-19 related issues such as service and supply chain disruptions, resource diversion to response efforts, and containment measures that limited immunization service access and availability.
“This is a red alert for child health. We are witnessing the largest sustained drop in childhood immunization in a generation. The consequences will be measured in lives,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. “While a pandemic hangover was expected last year as a result of COVID-19 disruptions and lockdowns, what we are seeing now is a continued decline. COVID-19 is not an excuse. We need immunization catch-ups for the missing millions or we will inevitably witness more outbreaks, more sick children and greater pressure on already strained health systems.”
18 million of the 25 million children did not receive a single dose of DTP during the year, the vast majority of whom live in low- and middle-income countries, with India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Ethiopia and the Philippines recording the highest numbers. Among countries1 with the largest relative increases in the number of children who did not receive a single vaccine between 2019 and 2021 are Myanmar and Mozambique.
Globally, over a quarter of the coverage of HPV vaccines that was achieved in 2019 has been lost. This has grave consequences for the health of women and girls, as global coverage of the first dose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is only 15%, despite the first vaccines being licensed over 15 years ago.
It was hoped that 2021 would be a year of recovery during which strained immunization programmes would rebuild and the cohort of children missed in 2020 would be caught-up. Instead, DTP3 coverage was set back to its lowest level since 2008 which, along with declines in coverage for other basic vaccines, pushed the world off-track to meet global goals, including the immunization indicator for the Sustainable Development Goals.
This historic backsliding in rates of immunization is happening against a backdrop of rapidly rising rates of severe acute malnutrition. A malnourished child already has weakened immunity and missed vaccinations can mean common childhood illnesses quickly become lethal to them. The convergence of a hunger crisis with a growing immunization gap threatens to create the conditions for a child survival crisis.
Vaccine coverage dropped in every region, with the East Asia and Pacific region recording the steepest reversal in DTP3 coverage, falling nine percentage points in just two years.
“Planning and tackling COVID-19 should also go hand-in-hand with vaccinating for killer diseases like measles, pneumonia and diarrhea,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “It’s not a question of either/or, it’s possible to do both”.
Some countries notably held off declines. Uganda maintained high levels of coverage in routine immunization programmes, whilst rolling out a targeted COVID-19 vaccination programme to protect priority populations, including health workers. Similarly, Pakistan returned to pre-pandemic levels of coverage thanks to high-level government commitment and significant catch-up immunization efforts. To achieve this in the midst of a pandemic, when healthcare systems and health workers were under significant strain, should be applauded.
Monumental efforts will be required to reach universal levels of coverage and to prevent outbreaks. Inadequate coverage levels have already resulted in avoidable outbreaks of measles and polio in the past 12 months, underscoring the vital role of immunization in keeping children, adolescents, adults, and societies healthy.
First dose measles coverage dropped to 81 per cent in 2021, also the lowest level since 2008. This meant 24.7 million children missed their first measles dose in 2021, 5.3 million more than in 2019. A further 14.7 million did not receive their needed second dose. Similarly, compared to 2019, 6.7 million more children missed the third dose of polio vaccine and 3.5 million missed the first dose of the HPV vaccine- which protects girls against cervical cancer later in life.
The sharp two-year decline follows almost a decade of stalled progress, underscoring the need to not only address pandemic-related disruptions but also systemic immunization challenges to ensure every child and adolescent is reached.
WHO and UNICEF are working with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and other partners to deliver the global Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), a strategy for all countries and relevant global partners to achieve set goals on preventing diseases through immunization and delivering vaccines to everyone, everywhere, at every age.
“It’s heart-breaking to see more children losing out on protection from preventable diseases for a second year in a row. The priority of the Alliance must be to help countries to maintain, restore and strengthen routine immunization alongside executing ambitious COVID-19 vaccination plans, not just through vaccines but also tailored structural support for the health systems that will administer them,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
The IA2030 partners call on governments and relevant actors to:
■ Intensify efforts for catch-up vaccination to address backsliding on routine immunization, and expand outreach services in underserved areas to reach missed children and implement campaigns to prevent outbreaks;
■ Implement evidence-based, people-centred, and tailored strategies to build trust in vaccines and immunization, counter misinformation and increase vaccine uptake particularly among vulnerable communities;
■ Ensure current pandemic preparedness and response and the global health architecture strengthening efforts lead to investment in primary health care (PHC) services, with explicit support to strengthen and sustain essential immunization;
■ Ensure political commitment from national governments and increase domestic resource allocation to strengthen and sustain immunization within PHC;
■ Prioritize health information and disease surveillance systems strengthening to provide the data and monitoring needed for programmes to have maximum impact; and
■ Leverage and increase investment in research to develop and improve new and existing vaccines and immunization services that can achieve community needs and deliver on IA2030 goals.
(Note 1) Of countries with at least 10,000 zero-dose children in 2021
Photo Credit: Allan Gichigi/MCSP
Sanyu Kigondu, hands over vaccine container to management of a health facility in Migori County
Navy Medicine graphic Poster 24"x36" encouraging Sailors and Marines to protect themselves and get immunized against COVID-19. Text reads: You wouldn't fight a fire without proper protection - Protect yourself - Get Immunized Against COVID-19.
Photo 201027-N-KL617-1036 Firefighting aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelby Sanders.
Eastereh Abdikerim with her child after getting polio vaccine at Togwajale Health Center, Jigjiga, Somali Regional State ©UNICEF Ethiopia/2019/Nahom Tesfaye
A child receives polio vaccine at Dire health center Bishoftu, Oromia Region Tuesday, 6 August 2019. ©UNICEF Ethiopia/2019/Mulugeta Ayene
This year, more than ever, Albertans should get immunized against influenza to protect their health and support the province’s fight against COVID-19.
Flu shots are now available free of charge at pharmacies and doctors’ offices across the province. Alberta Health Services (AHS) is also offering immunizations by appointment for those under five years old and those in their household.
This year’s flu season presents an additional challenge as Alberta responds to COVID-19. Immunization will help protect vulnerable Albertans, as well as decrease influenza-related tests, emergency room visits and hospitalizations during the pandemic.
The government has ordered a record 1.96 million doses of vaccine to help protect the health of Albertans.
“Getting immunized is more important now than ever before. It’s the best way to protect your health and the health of your friends and neighbours. It will also allow our health system to keep focusing on the fight against COVID-19 while we continue safely opening Alberta’s economy.”
Jason Kenney, Premier
“We’ve purchased a record amount of vaccine and made changes to ensure that getting your flu shot is as safe and easy as possible. By keeping cases of influenza low, we can make sure our health-care system can keep responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and all the other health-care needs that Albertans face every day.” said Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health.
“The flu shot won’t prevent COVID-19, but it will reduce your chances of getting sick with influenza and spreading it to others. While getting immunized helps, it’s also crucial to wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes and stay home when sick. If you have flu symptoms, book a test for COVID-19 as symptoms are similar. Let’s all do our part to keep one another safe.” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health. (photography by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)
Eastereh Abdikerim with her child after getting polio vaccine at Togwajale Health Center, Jigjiga, Somali Regional State ©UNICEF Ethiopia/2019/Nahom Tesfaye
At a maternal and child clinic at La Fossette, one of the largest in Cap-Haitian, patients arrive for regular check-ups as well as vaccinations. Four health workers work at the site, either vaccinating or weighing children. The clinic is held in a building in the process of being built.
Photo Credit: Karen Kasmauski/MCSP and Jhpiego
A health worker giving a measles vaccine to a child in Amhara Region south Wollo zone at Hike IDP center. The launch of regional vaccination campaign in Amhara Region of Ethiopia 27 December 2022. In addition, integrating in the campaign, a range of other lifesaving services. These include COVID-19 jabs and catch-up immunizations for under-vaccinated children, screening for acute malnutrition, vitamin A drops and deworming against intestinal parasites. ©UNICEF Ethiopia/2022/Mulugeta Ayene
The Ministry of Health of Cape Verde, with financial and technical support from UNICEF and WHO, introduced since 01 November in the national immunization schedule three new vaccines - against infections by Haemophilia Influenza B, rubella and Perotidite.
At the official presentation of the new National Immunization Schedule, the Minister of State and Health, Dr. Basilio Ramos, said that the introduction of new vaccines aims to protect children under 5 years against serious transmissible diseases, preventable by vaccination, and increase the program acceptability and the accessibility of the population to the new safe and assured quality vaccines, and demonstrates the effort that Cape Verde has made to protect children, because only one country concerned and committed to their development invests in its future, which are children.
With technical and financial support from UNICEF, the Ministry of Health has renewed its entire cold chain, which is the primary condition for the preservation of vaccines and to ensure the preservation of its quality. It is noteworthy that Cape Verde is the only region that has taken the decision of introducing these new vaccines and will support its own budget to acquiring them.
The country, to date, had a cost of 6.000 contos a year for acquisition of vaccines, but with the increase of vaccines, will be paid annually 27.000 contos. But, in the words of the Minister, the cost is insignificant before the gains that the country will have on the investment in the health of its future generations.
The Minister of State and Health added that Cape Verde is the country of the region with the highest vaccination coverage rate, which was echoed in the infant mortality rate (the lowest in the sub-region). It is interesting to keep these values and the challenge is to continue the investment in prenatal care, childbirth and the postpartum.
This decision of the country, to introduce these three new vaccines, will allow all the children of the country, under 5 years, start receiving for free vaccines that previously only the more affluent families had access.
UNICEF supports a nationwide measles vaccination campaign to protect 15.5 million children from life-threatening diseases. The launch of regional vaccination campaign in Haik town, Amhara region, Ethiopia 27 December 2022. In addition, integrating in the campaign, a range of other lifesaving services. These include COVID-19 jabs and catch-up immunizations for under-vaccinated children, screening for acute malnutrition, vitamin A drops and deworming against intestinal parasites. ©UNICEF Ethiopia/2022/Mulugeta Ayene
A child receives polio vaccine at Dire health center Bishoftu, Oromia Region Tuesday, 6 August 2019. ©UNICEF Ethiopia/2019/Mulugeta Ayene
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (April 12, 2023) - Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Darrell Collins draws a vaccine dose at Naval Hospital Jacksonville’s Immunizations Clinic. Collins, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, says, “Immunizations are key to keeping our active duty and their families safe from unnecessary illnesses.” World Immunization Week, April 24-30, aims to highlight the collective action needed to protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases. (U.S. Navy photo by Deidre Smith, Naval Hospital Jacksonville/Released). #FacesofNHJax
At a maternal and child clinic at La Fossette, one of the largest in Cap-Haitian, patients arrive for regular check-ups as well as vaccinations.
Photo Credit: Karen Kasmauski/MCSP and Jhpiego
At a maternal and child clinic at La Fossette, one of the largest in Cap-Haitian, patients arrive for regular check-ups as well as vaccinations.
Photo Credit: Karen Kasmauski/MCSP and Jhpiego
Health-care workers in Edmonton and Calgary are the first Albertans to be immunized against COVID-19.
Sahra Kaahiye, a respiratory therapist at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton, and Tanya Harvey, an intensive care nurse at the Foothills Medical Centre Cell in Calgary, were the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, December 15, 2020.
“Yesterday, I was on-site to see the first vaccine doses arrive in Alberta – now, about 24 hours later, we’re already administering the vaccine to front-line, critical health-care workers. The speed and efficiency shown in coming together to make this happen is remarkable. We will not stop our efforts until everyone who wants a vaccination gets one.” said Premier Jason Kenney. (photograph by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)
just got my swine flu immunization today. it's gonna be a awful scar, i fear
shot with Canon Eos 450D - 50mm / f1.8/ iso200 / 0.001s / available light only
postprocess: hue/saturation / colorbalance / resharpening via highpass
The 13th Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) will be celebrated from April 25th to May 2nd, 2015. The regional slogan for VWA 2015 is “Boost your power! Get vaccinated!” Vaccines are weakened or killed pathogens that help your immune system fight diseases. Vaccines do not make you sick, but prepare your body to fight off disease when exposed to full strength pathogens in the future. Vaccines boost the power of your immune system and fight off more than 20 different vaccine-preventable diseases. To read more on how vaccines boost your power, check out: www.paho.org/vwa/
Ronald Dangana
Ogam dispensary, Bondo sub-County, Kenya
Service provider prepares to administer the measles vaccination to 9 month old baby Noella while her mother Nancy looks on.
COVID-19 Vaccine first immunizations
12.16.2020
Video by Deidre Smith
Naval Hospital Jacksonville
B-Roll VIDEO: COVID-19 Vaccine first immunizations:
Date Taken: 12.16.2020
Date Posted: 12.17.2020 09:04
Category: B-Roll
Video ID: 777358
VIRIN: 201216-N-QA097-515
Filename: DOD_108110128
Length: 00:00:47
Location: JACKSONVILLE, FL, US www.dvidshub.net/news/385343/shot-hope-naval-hospital-jac...
Immunization health workers at Kisenyi Health Center IV in Kampala, Uganda, take on polio as we celebrate World Polio Day, October, 2012. (Stuart Ramson for UN Foundation)
Baby Hamid is playing with his mother Mrs.Fakiya,
while waiting his turn to be vaccinated in the waiting area.The woreda 03 health center in Addis Ababa is conducting routine immunization on 21 May 2020.
The health workers are vaccinating children below 24
months to protect them from other serious diseases.
The parents and health workers are implementing measures to be safe by wearing face masks, limiting the
number of people in waiting area to keep social distancing. UNICEFEthiopia/2020/Tewodros Tadesse
Each animal vaccinated against East Coast fever is given an ear tag (photo credit: ILRI/Stevie Mann).
A clinic in Marmalade, Haiti has adopted the Clean Care standards. They have a team of people who take shifts cleaning the clinic. Pictured is a nurse giving vaccinations to babies.
Photo Credit: Karen Kasmauski/MCSP and Jhpiego
Nurses give babies vaccinations in a clinic in Marmalade, Haiti that has adopted the Clean Care standards.
Photo Credit: Karen Kasmauski/MCSP and Jhpiego
UNICEF supports a nationwide measles vaccination campaign to protect 15.5 million children from life-threatening diseases. The launch of regional vaccination campaign in Haik town, Amhara region, Ethiopia 27 December 2022. In addition, integrating in the campaign, a range of other lifesaving services. These include COVID-19 jabs and catch-up immunizations for under-vaccinated children, screening for acute malnutrition, vitamin A drops and deworming against intestinal parasites. ©UNICEF Ethiopia/2022/Mulugeta Ayene
A health worker giving a measles vaccine to a child in Amhara Region south Wollo zone at Hike IDP center. The launch of regional vaccination campaign in Amhara Region of Ethiopia 27 December 2022. In addition, integrating in the campaign, a range of other lifesaving services. These include COVID-19 jabs and catch-up immunizations for under-vaccinated children, screening for acute malnutrition, vitamin A drops and deworming against intestinal parasites. ©UNICEF Ethiopia/2022/Mulugeta Ayene
This year, more than ever, Albertans should get immunized against influenza to protect their health and support the province’s fight against COVID-19.
Flu shots are now available free of charge at pharmacies and doctors’ offices across the province. Alberta Health Services (AHS) is also offering immunizations by appointment for those under five years old and those in their household.
This year’s flu season presents an additional challenge as Alberta responds to COVID-19. Immunization will help protect vulnerable Albertans, as well as decrease influenza-related tests, emergency room visits and hospitalizations during the pandemic.
The government has ordered a record 1.96 million doses of vaccine to help protect the health of Albertans.
“Getting immunized is more important now than ever before. It’s the best way to protect your health and the health of your friends and neighbours. It will also allow our health system to keep focusing on the fight against COVID-19 while we continue safely opening Alberta’s economy.”
Jason Kenney, Premier
“We’ve purchased a record amount of vaccine and made changes to ensure that getting your flu shot is as safe and easy as possible. By keeping cases of influenza low, we can make sure our health-care system can keep responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and all the other health-care needs that Albertans face every day.” said Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health.
“The flu shot won’t prevent COVID-19, but it will reduce your chances of getting sick with influenza and spreading it to others. While getting immunized helps, it’s also crucial to wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes and stay home when sick. If you have flu symptoms, book a test for COVID-19 as symptoms are similar. Let’s all do our part to keep one another safe.” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health. (photography by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)
I stepped on the train, on my way from San Francisco back to the East Bay. The car was nearly empty, with plenty of room for him to sit -he could have sat anywhere on the car, and would not have been near anyone- but he stood, right hand holding the railing, left hand wrapped around a cane which seemed to hold less of his weight than it should have. His cream colored camel hair coat matched the color of his brimmed hat. His black shoes were shiny, polished to an otherworldly sheen, and his grey slacks held the sharpest lines that I had ever seen in clothing. I watched him all the way past West Oakland, staring out the window at what could have only been the cityscapes and rooftops of suburbs passing by. At one point, he turned and looked directly at me, and I pretended to be asleep. I half opened my eyes to see if he was still looking at me, to see that he had turned his body to face me, and was staring intently at me. I heard the voice of my own thoughts "So you want to know who I am? I stay hidden, and I protect you people." I didn't know where that thought had come from, and I searched his eyes, I saw the images in my head, of this short latin man walking through darkness, cane held near the middle , like a baton, or a tool of sorts. In what must have been some kind of quasi-hallucination, I saw him draw a stainless steel .45 Colt Commander out of his jacket, cock it, and continue on, in a a strange pillar of light. There was a horrible tapping, banging, whirring, scraping. Out of the darkness the first of them came. The giant immunization robots. He fought them, and defeated them all, then walked back into the darkness. When I shook the inner movie screen loose, I looked back up at him. He nodded slowly, holding my gaze for another long moment before turning back to the windows, to gaze out over the rooftops. Two stops later, I got off and walked home. Until now, I never told anyone of this. That day, I just started drawing what I saw, and I keep working on it, bit by bit, whenever I have those nightmares.
Somehow, working on this drawing helps to calm me down, and feels me with a feeling of safety. I imagine that the man in the camel hair coat is keeping us safe and ignorant of horrors that we would not believe existed.
I don't know what I will do, or what will happen when this drawing is complete.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (April 15, 2021) – Amy Doughty, a licensed practical nurse at Naval Hospital Jacksonville’s Immunizations Clinic, administers a hepatitis vaccine. Doughty, a native of Orlando, Florida, says, “Immunizations are key to keeping our servicemen and women and their families safe from unnecessary illnesses.” Immunizations Week is April 24-30. Vaccines play a vital role in protecting people of all ages against diseases and death. (U.S. Navy photo by Yan Kennon, Naval Hospital Jacksonville/Released)
Carrying her vaccine cold box, Misawey Abate, needs to cross the cliffs before she gets to the village of Aba Yohannes where hundreds of women and children are waiting for a much-needed immunization campaign. This is not an easy job, but she has no alternative. For months health services were disrupted in Aba Yonannes because of conflict. In early May, UNICEF supported a vaccination campaign in IDP sites and villages affected by conflict in the Waghimra zone of the Amhara region. Along with the campaign, children and pregnant women were also screened for their nutrition status. ©UNICEF Ethiopia/2022/Mulugeta Ayene
Walk-in refrigerator for storing vaccines. Vaccines must be preserved at constant low temperatures to maintain their potency from manufacture through distribution. The image is a part of the Critical Analysis Skills Programme (CASP) that UNICEF launched as pilot for students of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) New Delhi, in public health journalism and communication ; where student were taken on an exposure visit to Jaipur from October 1-3, 2015. While visiting the State Vaccine Store in Jaipur students were explained about the cold chain management and its relevance and importance in Routine Immunization (RI) programmes. Students also witnessed the system of storage, management and supply of vaccines in entire Rajasthan and its contribution in saving lives of millions of children.
As the Ebola outbreak worsens in Liberia; many children have missed routine immunizations. Star of the Sea, a Catholic clinic in Monrovia, Liberia is one of the few clinics that remains open and provides immunizations and other routine health services. Photo by Michael Stulman/CRS
Catholic Relief Services has committed more than .5 million in private funds to continue its emergency response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The number of deaths and people infected with the virus continues to increase rapidly. CRS and its Caritas partner have been working to train more than 400 volunteers on key messages about Ebola as well as psychosocial counseling for those who've lost loved ones to the disease. Education is the only way to stop the spread of the disease, so CRS has been working on public awareness campaigns aimed at teaching the population about Ebola, including its spread and prevention.
Village Samho, Samho Block, Dist. Begusarai, Bihar, INDIA. Pinky Kumari, Cold Chain Handler, prepares to keep vaccine in vaccine carriers at Primary health centre (PHE) in Begusarai, Bihar. Social Mobilisation Network (SMNet), a UNICEF-supported initiative which mobilizes the community at every level village, block, district, region, state to get their children immunized from basic diseases as part of the governments routine immunization programmes. SMNet was started essentially in the 2000s as part of the government's anti-Polio campaigns. SMNet officers thus operate at every level, starting from the village level (where there's a Community Mobilisation Coordinator, typically belonging to the village), to the block, district, sub-region, and region, where there are corresponding mobilizing coordinators for every block, district, sub-region etc. SMNet is premised on the idea that people from within the community are the best ones to mobilize others in their people be it their village, their block or district. But this is where officers such as Bijay Ranjan prove that familiarity is merely an added advantage to the mobilizing process: the real trick lies in effective communication. It is this that made SMNet successful to the extent that SMNET Bihar officers have gone on mobilization drives to other states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh etc. Although SMNet started as a tool to fight Polio campaign, over the years it has transcended its original definition, and become a pool of human resource that can be realigned to any other social/developmental goal. In fact, as of 2015, exactly a year after the WHO declared India as Polio Free, the SMNet is busy tackling diarrhea, malnutrition, hygiene and breast-feeding, all of which are critical to keeping Polio at bay. Immunization in India continues to be an ongoing challenge.
UNICEF India/2015/Dhiraj Singh.
Childhood Immunizations are being given for the next three weeks at the Breath of Life Children's Clinic at 21715 Kingsland Boulevard. From left, Dawn Fanguy, LVN, gives an immunization to Corbin Brewer, 5, kindergarten student at Cimarron Elementary as Todd Poole, LVN, on the right, assists. Suzanne Rehak/For the Chronicle
All British Columbians are encouraged to get immunized and reduce the chance of getting the flu and passing it on to others.The influenza vaccine will be available throughout the province by early November at public health clinics, physicians’ offices, travel clinics and pharmacies.
Learn more: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2016HLTH0075-002094
doctorsimmediatecare.com/blog/importance-of-vaccines/
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Immunizations are one of the top 10 public health accomplishments of the 20th century.